Child Protection Services

Child Maltreatment includes physical and sexual abuse and neglect. Physical abuse includes a non-accidental physical injury caused by a care giver. Physical abuse also includes threatened injury which includes a statement, action, condition or status that represents a substantial risk of injury. Sexual abuse includes sexual touching of private parts of a child by a care giver or having a child touch the private parts of the care giver. Sexual abuse also includes threatened sexual abuse. Neglect includes several categories such as failing to provide for the basic needs of a child when able to do so, failing to protect a child, failing to educate a child, chronic and severe use of drugs or alcohol that impacts basic needs and safety, failing to provide necessary supervision and pre-natal exposure to drugs and alcohol abuse.

The goal of the County Attorney's Public Health and Human Services Division is the protection of our most vulnerable citizens. In furthering that goal, our attorneys provide legal advice and represent the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and Human Services in juvenile court proceedings relating to child protection. Children who have been abused or neglected are far more likely to perform poorly in school, get involved in criminal activities and abuse or neglect their own children. While we do not directly provide child protection services, our agency client provides services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to help families obtain services to change their behaviors. We also appear in juvenile court truancy matters, since children who are truant often have family and personal problems which affect their school attendance.

The Initial Intervention Unit (IIU) in Duluth serves the Southern half of St Louis County. This office is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. Phone: 218-726-2012 or 800-450-9777. People calling after hours can leave a message. Messages will be returned the next work day.

The Initial Intervention Unit (IIU) in Virginia serves the Northern half of St Louis County. This office is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. Phone: 218-471-7128 or 800-450-9777. People calling after hours can leave a message. Messages will be returned the next work day.

In an emergency call 9-1-1 to reach your local Law Enforcement agency.